Elisabeth splits her time between Tennessee and the Oregon coast. She contributes to the group blog Rebelutionaries. We thought this post — especially her questions at the end — were important. We want (and she wants) to hear from all of you.

It’s easy to join a cause. When you first read Do Hard Things it’s easy to be moved and say “Yeah, I’m a part of the Rebelution!” It sounds so impressive. It’s easy to say to yourself or even to other people, “I’m rebelling against low expectations.” It’s harder to internalize the truths of the Rebelution. And it’s very hard to make changes in your life to reflect those truths.

Sometimes being part of a movement like the Rebelution feels really great because there is so much excitement and support surrounding the project. There are blogs and forums you can turn to for encouragement. And reading the stories of other successful rebelutionaries really motives us to keep the idea alive. Rebelling against low expectations sounds so glamorous!

But somehow it feels a lot less glamorous when you are forcing yourself to get out of bed in the morning or when you’re passing up that awesome pair of shoes because you know you should curb your spending habits. The idea is exciting. The implementation is not. The Rebelution isn’t about the glamorous, it’s about the nitty-gritty. It’s not only about ideas, it’s about actions.

It’s the actions that are the hard part. So how do you channel that excitement you first felt when you discovered the Rebelution into action? How do you keep the enthusiasm coming day after day as you do the same small hard things? I suggest that the only way to do this is that you have to have a reason for doing hard things. You have to have that one thing to look at and say “Yes, that’s why I’m doing this.”

So why? Why are you trying to challenge yourself? What is the point? What is your reason? Why are you a rebelutionary? I’d love to hear your answers.

+ Our Answer / Your Answer +

Brett and I first met John three years ago at the 2005 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. We had just started the Rebelution a few months before and were live-blogging the festival as members of the press. John was a semi-finalist in the Young Filmmaker category with an audience favorite called Bubble Trouble. As we interviewed him, we knew we’d found a fellow rebelutionary.

The next year we were back. So was John. This time with a documentary film called A Lifetime of Childlike Faith. We were excited to see how much his filmmaking had matured and improved. It was a clear foretaste of things to come. Last year his film Heartstrings — a humorous and heartwarming story about fathers and sons — scored both Best Young Filmmaker and the coveted Audience Choice Award.

This year John is working on his biggest effort yet — a feature-length film, shot with a RED One digital camera (all aspiring filmmakers may now drool). We’ve asked him to share, in his own words, the purpose behind the film, as well as an open invitation for rebelutionaries — especially those in the Dallas area — to be involved in this exciting project, to pray for its success, and to follow the work as it happens.

A Letter to Rebelutionaries

Fellow Rebelutionaries,

In 2004, my friend David Heustis and I formed a “production company” to make movies. Our goal was the spotlight, our quality was on par with the average YouTube video. Now, after a few years of listening and learning from more experienced filmmakers, we have improved. But we’re still teens. And while we’ve added to the crew, many of our strongest additions are teens, as well.

So when we announced our plans to create a feature-length film, with the joint aim of sparking a movement towards tax reform in our Texas county, it was hard for outsiders to take us seriously. Would this just be a feature-length YouTube video?

Over many labor-filled months we wrote the screenplay, secured locations, locked down contracts with various professionals, and prepared for the hardest thing we’ve ever done. As we interacted with crew members, facilities, and local officials, they were shocked to discover that the writer and director of our film is eighteen, that our producer is nineteen, that our visual designer is seventeen, and that a majority of our grips and cast are teens as well. But they weren’t shocked that we were producing a film. Other teens have done that. Instead, it was the content and purpose of the film, and the seriousness with which we take our mission.

Why not an action film? A thriller? A horror or sci-fi piece? All of those genre are far more common among young filmmakers. Why a story like The Widow’s Might?

The Widow’s Might tells the story of an elderly widow who is about to lose her home due to tax foreclosure. When teen friends John and Cameron learn about it, they are determined to stop it. With the support of their families, they start educating the citizens in their town on the issues in an effort to turn her situation around. What they discover is that making a difference is a hard thing. A very hard thing.

What makes The Widow’s Might different than other films with young people fighting for change is that we’re actually doing it. The story is fiction, but the issues are real. What’s more, in the story of the film, John and Cameron put out a call to thousands of people for a rally in support of the needy widow. We’re doing that right now.

On Wednesday, August 27th, about 45 minutes southeast of downtown Dallas, TX, we will be shooting the biggest sequence of film: A showdown between our story’s heroes and villains. We need your help to make it happen. We’re looking for 1,500 people to join us. The message of the film hinges on the turnout. We’ll be issuing a press release using the crowd as a key indicator of the newsworthiness of the film release. We’re working to get national news writers to attend.

Are we crazy? Well, yes. Crazy about making a difference. And we want you to join us. It will be fun, but it also will make a real and meaningful artistic statement. Tell your friends. Join us on the 27th. Let’s make a difference together.

In Christ,

John R. Moore

+ Get Involved at TheWidowsCry.com +

This coming Sunday morning, Brett and I will board a plane for Virginia. Destination? Patrick Henry College. Classes don’t start till August 25th, but we’ll be arriving early for freshman orientation. College will be new, hard, and good. We’re excited.

What Does This Mean?

What does this mean for the Rebelution? Only good things. First off, the conferences, website, and blog will continue. In fact, our blogging should only improve as we interact with great ideas and don’t travel so much! And, we’re excited to live this message out on the college campus — and share our struggles along the way.

Not only that, but we have some of other plans for the upcoming year, including a revamp of the website and an exciting new event — more on those later. We can’t wait to see what God is up to, not just with the Rebelution, but with all of you.

Looking back at the past year (our “gap” year between high school and college) we are blown away at how far God has brought the Rebelution. Whether its the book, the conference tour, or the DVD, God is positioning this message to continue to spread beyond what we could ever have imagined.

Why College? Why Now?

So why college? Wouldn’t it be better to just focus on these great projects? Wouldn’t it be more rebelutionary to do without four more years of school? The answer goes to the heart of what the Rebelution is all about — and it’s not just the teen years.

Yes, the Rebelution is about teens being capable of so much more than what society expects. But more than that, it’s about understanding these years we’re living right now as the launching pad. More than just the teen years, it’s about all of life.

From what we’re hearing from twentysomethings and older adults who have read Do Hard Things, the need to reject low expectations and pursue growth doesn’t stop at age 20. What’s more, our purpose for doing hard things now isn’t to be “great teenagers” — the goal is to be prepared for a lifetime of effectiveness.

In the book we talk about men and women like George Washington, David Farragut, and Clara Barton. These heroes used their teen years to launch themselves into history-making years as adults. Our goal is never to make it into the history books, but none of us should want to be remembered — whether by many or by few — for what we did as teens. This is where it all starts, but not where it ends.

Our Personal Launch

For Brett and me, we believe that college is a crucial part of our personal launch and preparation. The quote we have found that best sums up the reason for our decision is found, interestingly enough, in Dostoevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov:

[Aloysha] was to some extent a youth of our last epoch — that is, honest in nature, desiring the truth, seeking for it and believing in it, and seeking to serve it at once with all the strength of his soul, seeking for immediate action, and ready to sacrifice everything, life itself, for it. Though these young men unhappily fail to understand that the sacrifice of life is, in many cases, the easiest of all sacrifices, and that to sacrifice, for instance, five or six years of their seething youth to hard and tedious study, if only to multiply tenfold their powers of serving the truth and the cause they have set before them as their goal, such a sacrifice is utterly beyond the strength of many of them.

Make sure you really read that quote. If you just skimmed over it, I want you to stop, go back, and take it in. Even in a brief character description, Dostoevsky makes a powerful and important point about taking the time for strict training.

Looking long term, Brett and I know that we can greatly improve our effectiveness by making time for focused study. This is right in line with the counsel we have received from the godly men and women God has placed in our lives.

We chose Patrick Henry College — a small school with a big vision — because of its commitment to excellence and cultural impact for the glory of God. It emphasizes not just character, not just competence, but both together — merging a classical liberal arts education with real-world apprenticeships.

We’re also excited about the caliber of the students. PHC attracts some of the most dedicated young people in the country in areas ranging from literature, history, and journalism to law, politics, and strategic intelligence — and has a growing culture of filmmaking. Our hope is that it will help to launch many rebelutionaries.

Following God’s Call, College or Not

Brett and I want to make it clear that we’re not saying that all rebelutionaries must (or even should) go to college. In fact, most young people who do go are just doing it because “that’s what you do after high school.” They don’t have a clear purpose, they’re not focused, and they end up wasting a lot of time and money.

While we are called to “strict training,” it will look different for each person. College can be very good or very bad. It can give you a lot more depth. It can greatly increase your effectiveness. It can help you establish lifelong relationships and connections. It can open doors that might otherwise be shut.

But college can also distract, corrupt, and hijack you. The decision requires us to diligently seek God’s direction, as well as an abundance of godly counsel. To “do hard things” means to follow His call, wherever it leads: college or not.

A New Chapter… For All of Us

For Brett and me, God’s call takes us across the country — and to a very different life than the one we’ve lived the past three years. We expect to be challenged and stretched. We covet your prayers for us and the Rebelution. It’s a new chapter in a great story by an amazing Author — and all of you are part of it.

So we want to hear from you. What does your next year look like? Whether you’re in high school (or middle school) or graduated, whether your “strict training” looks like college or something entirely different, let us know where God is taking you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Tim Sweetman just published an excellent article with Boundless Webzine. Run over and check it out. To whet your appetite read this quote Tim shares from Francis Schaeffer — commenting on the staff of Moses. God can use anyone.

“‘God so used a stick of wood’ can be a banner cry for each of us. Though we are limited in talent, physical energy, and psychological strength, we are not less than a stick of wood. But as the rod of Moses had to become the rod of God, so that which is me must become the me of God. Then I can become useful in God’s hands.” – Francis Schaeffer, No Little People

“Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18

I read in Mark chapter one this morning, where Jesus calls the first of His disciples, and it struck me: Why did He choose these guys? They were just random fishermen along the Sea of Galilee. They had no special qualifications. They were fishermen for crying out loud! But Jesus chose the foolish to shame the wise.

You wonder if Jesus had ever seen them before, or if they had ever seen Him. Either way they immediately left their nets and followed Him. How foolish we would be to consider ourselves special because Christ has given us a mission. Yet, also, how foolish to discount their one credential: being willing to leave everything and follow Him. How few of us can meet that qualification. God help us.

What have you been reading in your Bible?

Special Guest Post by Rebelutionary Christina Dickson

This last Saturday I went to shoot the Rebelution Conference. Toward the end of the conference, Brett challenged attendees with six tasks. They were all extremely practical and thoughtful steps. One that intrigued me the most was asking older people what they wish they would have known or done when they were younger. On my way back home from D.C. I decided to give this a go.

The flight from D.C. to Minneapolis I sat next to a financial adviser. He was very clean cut, but had calluses on his hands from when he worked in carpentry and construction. I asked him this question, and he looked down at me with a raised eyebrow. “You know, I’m not sure exactly how to answer that. I wish I wouldn’t have done as many stupid things when I was in college.”

It was promising to be an interesting conversation, but he got up and took a different aisle seat. My flight from MN to PDX was really different. I sat in the exit row. On my left was a teenage basketball player.

Obviously, I couldn’t ask the teenager what he would have done differently — he didn’t have all that much life experience. So, I decided to change it up. I found out that he had just graduated, and was extremely glad to do so because he thought school was incredibly boring.

He wasn’t sure where he was going next. He wanted to play for a school but the recruiting season was mostly over. If he didn’t play for school, he thought he might go into fashion design, because he liked clothes.

After this chit chat, I asked, “What would you do to change the world if you could?”

A blank stare was my response for a full five seconds, and then his face became a mask of incredulity. “Why you askin’ me that?” He demanded. “No one ever asked me that before.”

I came from a different angle. “Well, what moves you?”

He sat back and crossed his arms. “Nothing.”

“Nothing moves you?”

He shook his head.

His next argument was that he couldn’t do anything about anything, because people are people and they decide what they want to decide and believe what they want to believe, and he can’t change anything about that.

His statements made me so sad. But the worse part came when I asked why he believed that he couldn’t affect change.

“Because I’m black.”

I felt like the wind had been knocked from my lungs. “That’s lame.” I said aloud before I could help it.

He glared at me. “That’s easy for you to say,” he challenged.

“Dude, my dad is black. He works for a technology company and is very successful.”

He got quiet at this, and after a few moments, I tried to be kinder. “Well, I guess the moral of this story is…” I waited until he looked into my eyes. “Don’t use who you are as an excuse for not becoming who you could be.”

He didn’t say anything. But he nodded after a moment.

And then, he turned on his iPod.

I didn’t realize this was the extent of my generation. In a culture where individuality is prized, we still don’t believe that one person can make a difference. We don’t believe that every choice matters and affects those around us.

We still don’t believe that our lives can change the world.

I, for one, am not going to accept that.

Yesterday, I asked my mom what she wished she would have known when she was my age. After a small smile, she said, “I wish I would have known how much power I had as a young person to affect change. I wouldn’t have wasted so much time.” She then proceeded to tell me about a quote she read recently from Helen Keller — a woman who, despite many disabilities, affected enormous change in the world.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

It doesn’t matter if you work 9 to 5. It doesn’t matter if you stay at home and live a quiet life. It doesn’t matter if you are a full time musician or student. It doesn’t matter if you’re not incredibly gifted.

If you are here on this earth, God has a purpose for your life. He has a calling on you to affect change in this world as He lives through you. To seek anything less than this call is wrong. Already, too many people don’t think their lives matter. Too many people don’t care about affecting the world for good.

God’s people shouldn’t “do nothing”.

If I could do one thing to change the world, it would be to give people glasses to see the world through the lens of Jesus. Then, people would reach out. Then, people would see hurts and not be apathetic, or think their lives insignificant.

That’s why I’m going to Ecuador. That’s why I spent months on the streets of Portland. That’s why I teach and mentor.

Because Jesus will change the world through me.

What about you?

What one thing would you do to change the world if you could?

What will you do to change the world today?

What are you waiting for?

Make sure you visit Christina’s organization, Revelutionary Media, which brings together outstanding Christian artists to produce beautiful and true media for the greatest good and highest glory of Jesus Christ. This is exciting stuff.

Rebelutionaries check out Zach’s great new book Generation Change.

Photo Credit: Mandy Novotny

Brett and I get emails all the time from teens who want to know how to get involved in a cause God has laid on their hearts. The resource we recommend is Generation Change: Roll Up Your Sleeves and Change the World by Zach Hunter.

Here’s what we had to say after we first read it:

If you want to change the world, Zach Hunter’s new book is for you. Educating and equipping our generation to tackle the biggest problems of our day, Generation Change is a mini-encyclopedia of causes worth giving your blood, sweat, and tears. Zach tells stories, writes from his heart, and inspires action.

Finally, the chapter on Truth is worth the price of the book and more. It gives a compelling call for a generation to return to God and His Word first, even as it seeks to help the poor and oppressed. Highly recommended.

For a limited time, BooksChristian.com is partnering with Zach in the fight to end slavery. For every book sold, they will donate $1.00 to Loose Change to Loosen Chains — the ministry organization he started when he was 12 years old.

This is a great opportunity for all of us to support a fellow rebelutionary, to make a difference in the fight against slavery, and to equip ourselves to be effective as salt and light — meeting real needs of real people around the world.

Generation Change is a perfect, practical supplement to Do Hard Things. Do good for yourself while doing good for others. Take a moment right now, head over to Books Christian, and buy a copy or two. You’ll be glad you did.

Read it already? Share your review with the rest of us in the comments section!

+ Buy It at BooksChristian.com +

Sunday morning our father preached an incredible sermon at Covenant Life Church, entitled Don’t Waste Your Kids. Based on Psalm 127 (our parent’s life verse) this is a must-listen message for teens and their parents.

In so many ways, this message is a perfect continuation of the message of the Rebelution and Do Hard Things. How do we raise up a generation that lives for the glory God? In this message, our father gives his answer.

+ Go Here to Download +

Over 3,200 people packed into Covenant Life Church for the final stop of the 2008 tour. Momentum is building. What an amazing God.

More pictures and stories to come. If you attended please comment and share your experience! We’re still in Maryland with our entire family enjoying a much-needed vacation week — and rejoicing in God’s goodness!

Photo Credit: Christina Dickson • Mandy Novotny